I fell cheated today. When does one listen
to advice of others? When does one just ignore it and do what one was
planning to do? On a cycling trip one tries to learn from the experiences
from others and plan one’s trip accordingly. But, is the advice
relevant? Frequently, the feedback received is from the mindset of one
sitting behind the wheel with a powerful engine in front, not that of
being on a bicycle.

Today was such a day.

The morning started on the North Idaho Centennial
Trail at Post Falls. From there the cycle took us to Coeur d’Alene.
The next step was to connect to the Coeur d’Alene Trail some 50 kilometres
or so south. There were two cycling options, using Highway 95, the connecting
highway to the Canadian border some 100 kilometres north, or Highway 97,
a road that meanders around the lake on the east side.

We started asking for thoughts and recommendations
in the bike store in Spokane. We asked people along the way. The consensus
was that don’t cycle either but take a shuttle from Coeur d’Alene
to the Casino and then continue south with the shuttle to Plummer. By the
way the shuttle service was free, commuter buses with bike racks on the
front,

At lunch, John had made up his mind to take
the shuttle after a discussion with a cyclist at the Coeur d’Alene
visitor information centre. So, I decided to also use the shuttle.

With the bikes on front of the bus, I observed
Highway 95 as the bus made its way south to the Casino. With wide paved
shoulders I wondered why we were not cycling. Even through the construction
zone the pavement was wide enough to accommodate cycling. Then we reached
a 3 or 4 kilometres section where the shoulders disappeared and the road
narrowed. With the intensity of traffic on this road, it was a good reason
not to cycle on it.

So, we had a pleasant trip on two commuter
buses with talkative passengers and drivers. It was more of a community
feeling than being on a transit bus.

Early into Plummer. A chance for John to get
his legs back before we tackle the next mountain pass in the next two days.
The trailhead is just a couple of blocks away from this old motel. We need
to do our things early as the town closes up by 8:00 pm.

Looking forward to the trail in front of us.
The advertising literature showed mouse on the trail. Any chance of encountering
one in such hot heat?

Apparently, this area has gone through some
40 degree Celsius days. The crops are 3 to 4 weeks early as a result. While
it is a shade cooler now, we should be enjoying warm days, just what John
does not like. Give him rain. Give him clouds. Give him cool days. Then
he is happy.

Cycling Facilities

Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene

Bike Lanes

Bike lanes, frequently called Bike Routes, were installed on secondary
and residential streets as part of the Centennial Trail.

Coeur d’Alene had some as well in addition to a two-way path on
the shoulder of a road as part of the Trail. No cycling lanes were noticed
on any other roads.